Beyond Gold

A personal poem about the impact of certain jewelry pieces have. All photography is the writer’s.

Every piece of jewelry that adorns her

Means something

Something that no one knows but her

Something beyond a materialistic sentiment

The necklaces, earrings, nose ring, bracelets, and rings

All apart of her identity

Apart from the people, she surrounds herself with

She wears her country around her neck

A simple gold chain

Bought with love from her Mom's recent travels to the homeland

The earrings are ones she's never taken off since birth

Given to her by her grandmother to give her a piece of her

Shimmering in the sunlight and uniquely hammered

With a sense of cultural tradition behind it

A Pakistani tradition of gifting a piece of gold to a newborn to elevate her nationality

The gold nose ring, a statement like no other

A statement of rebellion in most cultures

But in hers, a sense of tradition that began in the 16the century

One meant to enhance the beauty of a woman

The small stud with a gold exterior and a diamond stud gleams in the sun

Gleams so bright it is the first thing people see when they meet her

The accessories on her wrists

Two cuffs with Arabic inscriptions

One with the world ‘allhumdillah' meaning "thank god"

Given to her by her cousins

A short saying that has always had a big impact on her

Always kept her going through the rough patches in life

Another translating to "stand on the battlefront of your dreams and fight for it" given to her by a close friend who constantly inspires her

Inspires her to chase after anything and everything she desires in life

To always put up a good fight before giving up

One watch that her mother received on her wedding day

A day so monumental she wouldn't be here if it wasn't for that day

It's the unlikely shape and inability to show time are what draws her to wear it

Reminding her that all great things aren't molded into the norm

And that everything comes at its own time

Lastly her gold ring

One she never takes off

Even if it suffocates her finger

Or she has to force it onto another finger to wear it some days

Given to her by her grandmother and late grandfather

She allows it to be a reminder of her wise, loving, caring, and charitable grandfather

Who no matter what she did love her dearly

It's a reminder for her to keep on pushing forth

To become someone he would be proud to call his granddaughter

Someone who impacts the world positively

These pieces are beyond a simple statement

They've been given with love

And soon she'll be adorned head to toe in sets of gold on her wedding day

As a parting gift

To remind her she is worth more than she knows

 

Strike Out,

Writer and Photographer: Saadiyah Qureshi

Editors: Gillian McKendree and Savannah Tindall

Tallahassee

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